URBAN GIRO - Stage 1: Turin (May 8, 2021)

The Giro is often presented through its epic mountain scenery and iconic climbs. But the corsa rosa also has an intimate and important relationship with the cities, towns and urban centres of the bel paese. Procycling looks at the geography, culture and racing history of the 2021 route's population centres 

by Barry Ryan

Procycling UK - May 2021 

The grande partenza takes place in Turin for the third time and, as on the two previous occasions, the coming of the Giro d’Italia doubles as a commemoration of the unification of Italy. Having already marked the centenary in 1961 and the 150th anniversary in 2011, the Giro returns to the city that served as Italy’s first capital after it was unified under the House of Savoy in 1861. 

Four years later (1865), the seat of government moved on to Florence, but Turin’s grand palaces, sweeping boulevards and elegant porticos still hint at its former status. Even though Rome and Milan are Italy’s political and economic capitals respectively, Turin has remained a centre of industry, culture and learning, wielding its own degree of influence over the country at large. 

Turin’s car factories were at the heart of Italy’s economic miracle of the post-war years, drawing thousands of migrants from the rural south into the city. The Agnelli family, controllers of Fiat, Juventus and La Stampa, bestrode Turin, but it was not only a manufacturing capital. Umberto Eco and Claudio Magris were among a generation of students developing their ideas in the cafes of Via Po, while the Einaudi publishing house was emblematic of Turin’s impact on Italian literary culture. In the 1940s and 50s, the editorial staff alone included authors of the renown of Italo Calvino, Cesare Pavese and Natalia Ginzburg. 

If Milan’s institutions, from La Gazzetta dello Sport to the Vigorelli, made it Italian cycling’s de facto capital city, Turin also had a proud heritage in the sport, though much of it has been neglected over the years. Piedmont no longer produces bike riders with the same frequency as before, while not even renaming the velodrome on Corso Casale in honour of Fausto Coppi could ensure its preservation as a cycling venue. In the days of Moser and Saronni, the city’s sports daily Tuttosport competed fiercely with La Gazzetta for scoops, but the space it devotes to cycling has shrunk considerably in the 21st century. 

More recently, however, there have been some encouraging developments, not least the revival of Milano-Torino in 2012, with the innovation of a summit finish overlooking the city at the evocative Basilica di Superga. The 2021 Giro’s opening stage, meanwhile, is a time trial through the heart of Turin and along the banks of the Po. World champion and Piedmont native Filippo Ganna is the overwhelming favourite. For a day at least, Turin will be a cycling city again.

STAGE 1 - Sat 8 May - 8.6km ITT

TURIN - TURIN

The Giro begins with a short, pan-flat time trial around Turin, which shouldn’t result in large gaps. The odds are in favour of Filippo Ganna claiming the pink jersey following the opening test, just as he did in 2020. For the GC riders, it will be a race of seconds and small but meaningful gaps.

STAGE 2 - Sun 9 May - 179km

STUPINIGI (NICHELINO) - NOVARA

Stage 2 is an early opportunity for the fast men, which this year will include Elia Viviani, Fernando Gaviria and Peter Sagan. Across the plains of the River Po, this one doesn’t look like the most exciting, though any respite will be welcome. Finishes in Novara, the second biggest city in Piedmont.